Neurobrucellosis is a rare neurological complication of brucellosis. This report describes
19 patients of neurobrucellosis and they accounted for 8% of all cases of brucellosis
admitted to Shiraz University Hospitals over a period of eight years. Headache, fever,
fatigue, drowsiness and neck stiffness were the common clinical features. Cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF) showed pleocytosis in 100%, elevated protein levels in 89% and low glucose
level in 47% of the patients. All the patients improved with specific antibiotic treatment.
Of the 19 patients, 10 (52.5%) patients received treatment for 8 to 28 weeks. Duration
of antibiotic treatment was: 8-14 weeks in 8 (42%) patients; 24-28 weeks in 2 (10.5%)
patients; 6 months in 7 (37%) patients; 12 months in 1 (5.3%) patient; and 18 months
in 1 (5.3%) patient. Clinicians in endemic areas should consider the likelihood of
neurobrucellosis in patients with unexplained neurological and psychiatric symptoms